Elderly woman attacked in Brunswick toilet block0:21

A 69 year old cleaner has survived a sickening attack in a toilet block. Courtesy: Ten Eyewitness News

November 30th 2016

10 months ago

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An elderly woman has been strangled, kicked and punched in Brunswick.Source:Supplied

POLICE are hunting for two “cowards” who brutally attacked an elderly woman and stole her jewellery while she was at work.

Avondale Heights woman Maria, who asked for her surname to be withheld, was cleaning a staff toilet about 4am on November 21 when she walked in on two men tagging the bathrooms in a Brunswick car park usually reserved for staff.

The men then pounced on the 69-year-old woman, punching her in the head, kicking her to the ground, and stealing her jewellery at the Grantham St block.

An Avondale Heights woman, 70, was left with injuries after she was attacked and robbed at a Brunswick toilet block.Source:Supplied

The woman suffered significant bruising, swelling and a laceration to the face.Source:Supplied

Maria’s daughters, who wished to remain anonymous, said her strangulation injuries to her throat and vocal chords were so severe, she had been left unable to speak.

They say she is now so distressed, their once “independent” mum is frightened to be in her own alone, and is too scared to return to work, where she has been employed former than seven years.

“She is scared to take out the bins, she’s scared in her own house; this has had a very traumatic impact on her life,” Maria’s daughter said.

“It’s upsetting, as a family to see what she has been reduced to.

“She can’t function, there’s no possible way she could return to work; this has changed her life dramatically.

“To think there could be a type of human being out there that could do that to anyone, much less, an elderly woman who was defenceless, it’s cowardice, it’s disgusting.”

Maria’s daughter said she her mum was given the jewellery which was stolen during the attack almost 55 years ago.

“I think it’s just disgusting that while one of them was choking her, the other was pulling the rings off her fingers,” she said.

One of the rings taken from Maria as she was attacked in a Brunswick staff toilet.Source:Supplied

One of the rings taken from Maria as she was attacked in a Brunswick staff toilet.Source:Supplied

One of the rings taken from Maria as she was attacked in a Brunswick staff toilet.Source:Supplied

Police are now analysing the graffiti tags left in the toilets to try and identify the attackers.

“Hopefully someone knows them and calls the police,” she said.

The woman was taken to hospital with significant bruising, swelling and a laceration to the face.

The men stole four rings, three bracelets and a gold necklace from the woman before fleeing the scene.

Graffiti tags left at the scene of the attack. Picture: Victoria PoliceSource:Supplied

Several of the items had great sentimental value, including the victim’s wedding ring, 50-year wedding anniversary ring and other significant gifts she had owned for decades.

Police are appealing for the offenders to come forward.

One is described as having a moustache and wearing a black hooded jumper.

Anyone with information should contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential crime report at crimestoppersvic.com.au